To see today's season launch...

   

It's been a whirlwind ride for the slightly built 16-year-old midfield creator who signed for the A-League champions just weeks ago and played against Tim Cahill's Everton in a friendly earlier this month.

And with injury clouds over key sky blue midfielders Stuart Musialik and Nick Carle, the teenager can expect to build on his budding career with some game time at this pre-season Festival of Football.

"It's like a dream come true," Antonis told au.fourfourtwo.com at Sydney's season launch on Thursday. "Hopefully I do [see game time]. Let's see what happens."

The sky blues open with the Greek giants in Sunday's early game at the SFS followed by games against Glasgow Rangers (Wednesday) and Blackburn Rovers (Saturday).

It's a mouth-watering prospect not only for the fans but for the former AIS midfielder who caught the eye in last season's national youth league as a 15-year-old.

"I've always wanted to play for Sydney," said Antonis. "It's an honour to play for them. And Nicky Carle, I've watched him since I was small. He's one of my idols.

"I learn something new every day,  heaps of stuff from the players, coaches, everyone."

Antonis, who's finished his schooling and is now a full-time footballer, was paraded in front of the media along with his teammates at a glitzy function at Star City.

And with the players called up on stage in alphabetical order, the youngster was first to be summoned to the stage by MC Les Murray.

To stand alone on stage in the glare of spotlight was daunting for the teenager, who later laughed it off. He admitted: "It was a bit embarrassing, I was really nervous getting up."

Meanwhile, AEK Athens arrive in Sydney later tonight with a full-strength 24-man squad that includes Aussie Nathan Burns.

Also making the trip is the highly rated trio of Raffik Djebbour, Ismael Blanco and Ignaccio Scocco, all of whom the Athens side is looking to re-sign on new deals, reports James Belias of Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos.

AEK president Stavros Adamidis has reportedly put a contract on the table to the Djebbour, with the Algerian forward's camp positive to the two to three year deal.

Blanco similarly looks like continuing his three season run at AEK, despite strong reports linking him with a move to Cypriot side Omonia, which have since been refuted by Omonia coach Takis Lemonis.

The big surprise inclusion for AEK is youngster Lefteris Intzoglou, who seems to have secured the approval of Bajevic following AEK's preseason camp and three friendly matches in Austria.

The only two AEK players part of the touring squad that did not play in Austria are Djebbour and new signing and ex-Portsmouth star, Papa Bouba Diop.

 Fan-favourite Nikos Georgeos is included, despite having been sidelined in Austria with a knee complaint. The squad is:

Goalkeepers: Sebastian Saja; Giannia Arabatzis
Defenders: Traianos Dellas; Daniel Majstrovic; Kostas Manolas; Nikos Karambelas; Nikos Georgeas; Sanel Jahic; Claudio Dandomo; Anestis Argyriou.
Midfielders: Papa Bouba Diop; Pandelis Kafes; Leonardo; Eder; Grigoris Makos; Panagiotis Lagos; Savvas Gentzoglou; Lefteris Intzoglou.
Forwards: Ignacio Scocco; Nikos Liberopoulos; Ismael Blanco; Raffik Djebbour; Nathan Burns; Mihalis Pavlis.

To see today's season launch...